Experts from Helen DeVos Children’s Hospital Injury Prevention and GVSU Athletic Training Education agree that warming up and stretching are key to preventing sprains and strains. Many student athletes don’t spend enough time performing this important task. Warming up often involves some light jogging or jumping exercises to get the heart pumping. Stretching involves making sure your muscles are moving and ready to go.

It’s also important to make sure students stay hydrated, especially in the warm weeks at the beginning and the end of the school year. An athlete should drink 17 to 20 ounces of water about two to three hours before activity. Then they should drink another seven to 10 ounces about a half hour before activity, and seven to 10 ounces every 10 to 20 minutes during activity.